Spattering is a term which means spraying small droplets of paint onto the canvas. Spatter techniques in oil paintings can be applied to create a sense of mist, fog, ocean spray, or random wildflowers. I first became familiar with the use of spatter years ago with watercolor paint and nowadays … Read More
When I harvested a black walnut tree in Massachusetts to have a memory of my childhood home, I had no idea of the adventure ahead. Now I have a stack of rough sawn boards here in Soquel. I decided to make some frames for my paintings, but little did I … Read More
If you have purchased a painting from me, you may notice that their are several notations on the back side. These include notes about the painting, dates, signatures, and anything else an artist chooses to put there. They become part of the provenance of the painting, which is the record … Read More
It is sometimes difficult to paint large paintings plein air. After all, when we set up our easels in the out of doors, factors like uneven ground, heaviness of large canvases and wind make the large painting effort problematic. Especially wind, which can come up at any time, can be … Read More
In this post, I want to share some words about the types of canvases available for paintings, as well as about framing. I’ll try to answer of few of the questions that seem of interest to my studio visitors. People have been creating art by painting for thousands of years. … Read More
My Summer Ateliers (gatherings of artists to work together) are open to all former students and all members of the Santa Cruz Oil Painters. Anyone who has taken a class, workshop, or private lesson from me is welcome. These sessions are not a class situation, but rather an opportunity … Read More
Presentation is a term by which we mean primarily framing, plus where the painting is hung, and what surrounds it. Presentation provides the opportunity to enhance your paintings. Frames can quietly blend your painting in with other art works and furnishings within a room, or they can work to pop … Read More
Last weekend I spent an enjoyable three days with artists learning in my studio. I taught value relationships and painting composition. Value refers to the light and dark areas in a composition. We spent the first day painting a projected image in shades of gray. Then artists worked on their … Read More
Winter has clearly arrived here on California’s central coast. The rain is so good for all of the land; already we see the green beginning to arrive. Soquel Creek, flowing beneath my house and art studio, has become Soquel River! During these cool, wet days, I love to hole up … Read More
Two 3-Day Workshops I will offer two 3-day workshops early in 2019. Each workshop will run three consecutive days, giving the artist scholars the opportunity to immerse themselves in the study of a focused element of painting. Each workshop day will run from 9:30am to 4:00pm, with a half hour … Read More
The La Mirada Art Education Center Monterey’s own Museum of Art is sponsoring two events giving everyone an opportunity to paint or sketch in the gardens and historic building of the Museum’s La Mirada Education Center. Both events will happen the weekend of Saturday June 30 and Sunday, July 1. … Read More
Oil paint by itself has a richness and thickness which provides texture to a painting. But that texture can be enhanced and added to with a variety of tools and techniques. This picture shows a few of the many tools available for this purpose. Shaping and lifting tools help you … Read More
Cloud formations provide a stimulating challenge for a landscape painter. After a spring rain, I often see formations of cotton-like cumulus clouds, billowing in from the sea. When choosing to paint them, it is quite helpful to prepare a draw down of grays, 4 values. Don’t let the darkest be … Read More
I have been painting for many years, and it is truly a lifelong learning experience. I believe I learn something every time I pick up a brush. Each new landscape is a new challenge, different from all others. I attend artist critiques most months, with 5 to 20 artists taking … Read More